APL 2018- Paktia Panthers vs Kabul Zwanan 2nd Semi Final Match Prediction. Kabul Zwanan and Paktia Panthers will bid for a place in the inaugural APL final when they meet in Sharjah. The match is scheduled for October 20 and the live action begins at 20:00 local time.

Betting Tips

Paktia Panthers beat Kabul Zwanan in the final group-stage match to ensure they finished second ahead of third-placed Kabul.

Mohammad Shahzad hit his fourth half-century of the tournament in that win. He has 343 runs from eight innings – more than any other batsman.

Shahzad overtook Hazratullah Zazai in the process – the Kabul Zwanan batsman hit the only APL century so far, and also hit six sixes in an over against Balkh Legends.

Paktia Panthers Team News & Playing 11

PP Team News

Calum MacLeod has forced his way into the starting XI with scores of 40 and 35 in his last two matches. The Scottish international – who destroyed England in his team’s notable ODI win in the summer – has replaced Sikandar Raza in the starting line-up, with the Zimbabwean having reconciled with the national team.

Cameron Delport sat out the last match, but Seekkuge Prasanna has failed to take his opportunity as he scored one in each of his two games and took one wicket apiece. It means the overseas quartet will likely be MacLeod, Delport, Shahid Afridi and Isuru Udana.

Ishanullah, opening the batting, retired hurt in the final group game and could now be a doubt. If he does not recover, Faisal Zazai – who opened in his only appearance so far, against Kandahar Knights in their penultimate league game – appears the most likely replacement.

PP Key Players

Another half-century from Mohammad Shahzad last time out – his fourth of the tournament – moved him to the top of the run-scoring charts with 343 from his eight innings so far. He has hit 30 fours and 27 sixes so far – no other batsman hit more in the league stage – and captained his team to five wins in eight games.

Calum MacLeod has come into form at a good time too, with 40 and 35 in his last two innings. The Scottish international shot to wider fame in the summer with his heroics for his country in their famous win against England.

Their batting heroics have been backed up by excellent bowling from Isuru Udana. The Sri Lankan took 2-33 from his four overs last time out to move to 15 wickets in his seven games – the second-most in the tournament so far. Ziaur Rahman went wicketless but did bowl a maiden on his way to 0-15 from three overs. He has nine wickets in five games since coming into the team.

PP Team Form

Paktia Panthers lost their opening group game to Kabul Zwanan, despite Sikandar Raza and Mohammad Shahzad both hitting half-centuries in a total of 218/4 – the Panthers losing in the final over.

They responded well, however, winning their next three in a row and five out of seven in total. Isuru Udana has been in the wickets, including claiming 3-19 to bowl Kandahar Knights out for 118 in a low-scoring nine-run Panthers win, while Shahzad has hit a further three half-centuries.

The most recent of those was in the final group game, against a much-changed Kabul Zwanan team, as the Panthers bounced back from a last-ball, four-wicket defeat to Kandahar Knights (having posted 167/7) by beating Kabul by six wickets. Udana claimed 2-33 with the ball, before Shahzad smashed 62 from just 27 balls as the Panthers chased 169 to win with two balls to spare.

Paktia Panthers Predicted Playing 11

Kabul Zwanan Team News & Playing 11

KZ Team News

Kabul Zwanan handed Usman Adil a debut in their final group game. His 11 not out from 18 balls proved costly, however – slowing the innings down as Kabul finished just a few runs below par. Wayne Parnell came in at number three in that match, and may stay up the order having scored 42 from 28 balls. Laurie Evans is also likely to return, having been rested for that match. Ali Khan was the man to come in, making just his second appearance of the tournament, but went wicketless again. Rashid Khan will also return, having also been rested for the final group game.

KZ Key Players

Colin Ingram top-scored in the last match, having captained the team with Rashid Khan rested. His unbeaten 83 was his first big score of the tournament, having previously hit 84* and 51 in two matches for Boost Defenders in Abu Dhabi before making the short trip to Sharjah for the APL.

Laurie Evans and Hazratullah Zazai have been their star men with the bat, however. Evans – who arrived in Sharjah on the back of being the top run scorer in the t20 Blast – has hit three half-centuries so far in this year’s tournament, top-scoring with 79 not out when these two teams met in the first match.

Hazratullah, meanwhile, smashed the APL”s first (and so far only) century when he bludgeoned 124 from 55 balls against Nangarhar Leopards, while he hit the headlines again when he smashed six sixes in an over in a losing cause against Balkh Legends – equalling the record for fastest T20 50 in the process.

With the ball, captain Rashid Khan was back to his best before being rested for the final group game – he took 1-14 from four overs and then smashed an unbeaten 27 off eight balls to lead Kabul to victory against Kandahar Knights.

Wayne Parnell, who also excelled with the bat last time out after being promoted to number three, is their top wicket-taker so far with nine from eight games. He has been expensive, however.

KZ Team Form

Kabul Zwanan won three of their first four matches in the APL but only one of the final four. They beat Paktia Panthers on the opening night by three-wickets, with Laurie Evans leading them to victory with 79* from 39 balls to set the tone for the tournament.

While they have been expensive with the ball, Evans and Hazratullah Zazai – as well as contributions from Luke Ronchi and, last time out, Colin Ingram have ensured they have been competitive in almost every game.

While their much-changed team lost to Paktia Panthers last time out – posting 168/4 from 20 overs, which the Panthers chased down for the loss of four wickets with two balls to spare – they beat Kandahar Knights the last time they had their full-strength team out.

On that occasion, having restricted the Knights to 152/5, Laurie Evans hit a patient 32 not out before Rashid Khan smashed the penultimate over for 23 to lead Kabul Zwanan to a four-wicket win.

KZ : W L W L W

Paktia Panthers vs Kabul Zwanan Betting Odds

Kabul Zwanan are narrow favourites to beat Paktia Panthers, despite the Panthers’ win last time out. Paktia boast the best batsman in the competition so far, however, and the second-best bowler.

Paktia could be good value at 2.00 to win with Bet365, and Kabul Zwanan are 1.80 to win.

Given Mohammad Shahzad has hit the most sixes in the competition so far, the Panthers could be worth backing to hit the most sixes in the match too – even with Hazratullah Zazai lining up for Kabul Zwanan. The Panthers are 2.10 to do so, whereas Kabul are 2.00.

Paktia Panthers vs Kabul Zwanan Prediction

Paktia Panthers might be outsiders for this semi-final, and the win in the last match should be taken with a pinch of salt, given Kabul Zwanan made several changes. But, with Mohammad Shahzad in the runs and Isuru Udana taking plenty of wickets, the Panthers can still book their place in the final.

Final Verdict: Back Paktia Panthers to beat Kabul Zwanan at 1.80 with Bet365